Posting of graduates as food inspectors yet to be withdrawn

LAHORE It will take years to see when the government implements and translates its words into action rather than uttering mere rhetoric to ensure transparency and maintain rules and regulations, which seldom works for good governance. The Punjab government is yet to withdraw the postings of simple graduates as food inspectors made in violation of rules and regulations in the office of District Office (Food), City District Government Lahore. The postings were made a month back in sheer violation of new Punjab Pure Food Rules (PPFRs) 2007, which states that instead of Arts graduate, persons qualified as Science graduate with three months training in food inspection, and sampling work could be appointed and posted as food inspector. DO (Food) Masood Ashraf repulsed the move, and sent a summary against the postings to DCO office. However, a decision could not be taken so far. A bleak infringement has been observed in appointment of Malik Zulfiqar Awan from the Food Department against a vacancy of food inspector in the office of DO (Food) CDG without its existence. Sources in DCO office revealed that the case had been brought into the notice of the high-ups, who had started probing the matter. They said that the issue had racked up storm among the government functionaries, as they believed that violation of merit would invite the wrath of CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. When contacted Chairman of CMs Task Force on Essential Items and Chairman Food Stamp Scheme SA Hameed told The Nation on Wednesday that after the imposition of new Punjab Pure Food Rules 2007, only science graduates were eligible to assume the charge of food inspector. He said that the postings of simple graduates in Arts as food inspector, was against the PPFRs. As per new PPFRs 2007, Rule 38 for appointment of food inspector, no person will be appointed as food inspector under Section 16 unless he is Bachelor in Science with Chemistry, Bachelor in Agriculture or Veterinary Science or Bachelor in Food Technology with three months training in food inspection and sampling work in an institution approved for the purpose by the government. Nothing in this rule shall affect the appointment of food inspector made before the coming into force on these rules. Vide sub-rule to the Rule 38 say that those who have been appointed as food inspectors before the imposition of new PPFRs 2007 are exempted from the specifications science graduation laid down for the food inspector. The sources said that office of DO (Food) CDGL received a letter No 186-92/E on January 5 for the posting of Malik Zulfiqar Awan (Grain Supervisor in Food Department Punjab), as food inspector with immediate effect. Sources said that Malik Zulfiqar was an Arts graduate. He had already worked as food inspector on deputation for some time in the same office under the provision of Pure Food Rules, 1965, criteria of appointment being simple graduation in Arts or Science, they added. In 2009, he was repatriated to his mother department under suo moto by the High Court, Lahore. However, as PPFRs 1965 has been replaced with new Punjab Pure Food Rules 2007, he is no more eligible to work as food inspector, so his posting is ultra vire. It may be recalled that laws relating to food standards in Punjab dated back to pure food rules introduced by the colonial rulers in 1860 and updated in 1929. The rules were incorporated without much change in Pakistan through West Pakistan Pure Food Rules 1965 which had been now replaced with PPFRs 2007.